Optimized location of biomass bales stack for efficient logistics

• Published in: Biomass & bioenergy 2017-01, Vol.96, p.130-141
• Main Authors: Subhashree, Srinivasagan N., Igathinathane, C., Bora, Ganesh C., Ripplinger, David, Backer, Leslie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aggregation; Biomass; Energy; Logistics; Optimization; Transport
• ISSN: 0961-9534; 1873-2909
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biombioe.2016.11.007

Producers often aggregate bales into stacks before transporting these bales to an outlet for consumption or delivery to industrial applications. Efficiency improvement in this infield bale logistics will be beneficial. To address this an R simulation program involving five methods for field stack location, namely field middle, middle data range, centroid, geometric median, and medoid, as well as origin (a direct aggregation method to outlet), were developed. These methods were evaluated against field areas, ranging from 0.5 to 520 ha, for infield bale logistics (aggregation, transport, and total) using Euclidean distances. The simulation used several input field variables, laid out bales based on yield variation, determined optimized bale stack locations of methods, and evaluated distances of aggregation to the stack, transport from the stack to the outlet, and total logistics. The origin method used 1-bale handling tractor for direct aggregation to the outlet, while others formed the bale stacks and transported bales to the outlet using 6-bales/trip equipment. Results indicated for aggregation that geometric median was the best, followed by field middle or centroid, middle data range, medoid, and finally origin. Methods aggregation were about 76% and transport about 24% of the total (for > 2 ha); and total distance were about 65% of the origin. ANOVA, excluding origin, indicated that all methods were not significantly different (p < 0.05) for the areas studied. The ‘field middle’ was recommended as an easy and practical method for locating field stacks. Fitted power models described well (R2 > 0.99) all the logistics distances. [Display omitted] •Developed R simulation program evaluated six bale stack location methods against areas.•Geometric median is the most and medoid the least efficient method for aggregation.•Methods, except origin, mostly were not significantly different among field areas.•Aggregation was 76% and transport was 24% of the total, and total was 65% of origin.•Field middle was practical and recommended method; its logistics fitted power models.